Westside Church of Christ

09/08/2026

Some great takeaways from Stan Freitas’ message at Westside on Sunday.

We continue the Kingdom conversation.

A line that stuck with me: "If you could worry, you could pray."

Worry is basically running the same fearful thoughts on a loop. Prayer takes that exact same mental energy and hands it over to God instead.

Leaning on Philippians 4:7 and Romans 12:2, Stan reminded us that peace isn’t something we generate on our own—it comes from letting God renew the way we think and letting Christ guard our hearts and minds.

And wherever the King is, His kingdom goes. That means carrying that peace into work, home, and everywhere else we go this week.

He took us to Matthew 21, walking through the Parable of the Two Sons and the vineyard tenants. The heart check was simple: it’s easy to receive God’s blessings, get comfortable, and forget to actually honor Him.

It really comes down to ownership vs. stewardship. We act like we own our lives, our time, and what we have, but we’re just tenants.

The goal this week is simple: stop trying to run the whole show, hold things loosely, and be faithful with what He’s put in our hands.

09/07/2026

(Re) Introducing the Prayer Quilt
Ministry

The Prayer Quilt Ministry at Westside continues to wrap our community in love, providing tangible comfort to individuals facing a wide variety of life's challenges. As shown in the photos, these are not just ordinary blankets; they are special prayer quilts where congregation members actively participate in the blessing.

Whenever a new quilt is ready, our church family is invited to stop and tie a heavy double knot in the loose threads. Every single knot denotes a specific, heartfelt prayer lifted up for the person who will be wrapped in it. It is a deeply meaningful tradition that provides immense encouragement for both the receiver, who gets a physical reminder that they are not alone, and the sender, who is blessed by the act of praying for a neighbor in need.

"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ."

— Colossians 2:2

If you are interested in joining the ministry or want someone to receive this special blessing contact Ginger Malone or Shawn Brandenburg. You can also reach out to the office.

09/04/2026

Recently, the ReMission conference challenged churches across the country with a hard truth: "We lost our mission". The call was made to revive our passion for soul-winning and getting back to the heart of the Gospel.

At Westside, we are taking that call to heart! We are committed to ensuring our focus remains on what matters most—sharing the love and truth of Christ with our community.

That is why we are thrilled to announce our upcoming Soul-Winning Seminar on September 12 starting at 9:00AM. This seminar is designed to equip, encourage, and empower every member of our church family to confidently share their faith.

Let's not settle for just going through the motions. Let's unite, step out in faith, and get back to the mission!

Come ready to learn, pray, and be inspired. See you there!

09/01/2026

When you see the phrase “Church of Christ” on a building, what comes to mind?

For many, it can feel like a denominational brand, a corporate title, or an exclusive sectarian label.

However, drawing on April 24, 2026 insights from The Christian Chronicle regarding the idea of a "divine name," it is vital to clear up these misconceptions and recover the biblical heart behind the phrase.

Here is what the name truly signifies and where the wrong impressions begin:

A Declaration of Ownership, Not a Corporate Title: “Church of Christ” isn't a denominational brand; it is a relational statement. It simply signifies that the church belongs to Jesus. The phrase finds its roots in Romans 16:16, where the apostle Paul writes, “All the churches of Christ send greetings”.

A Rejection of Sectarianism: Historically, believers emphasized this descriptor specifically to move away from divisive, man-made labels. The original goal was unity—to be “Christians only” with “no creed but Christ”. Treating the phrase as a sectarian "secret handshake" defeats its very purpose.

One of Many Scriptural Descriptors: Other New Testament phrases, such as “church of God,” “churches of God in Christ Jesus,” or simply “the Kingdom,” are equally biblical and appropriate. Embracing these other terms helps prevent the false impression that God mandates one specific, exclusive phrase on a church sign.

Ultimately, a name on a building does not guarantee faithfulness. Scripture does not indicate that God is primarily concerned with the specific wording on a marquee. A true church is identified by its adherence to New Testament teaching and the visible, everyday fruit of the Holy Spirit among its members.

Glenn Posey (+) summarized the true weight of the name beautifully: “The Church of Christ wears his name because it bears his cross”.

That should be the true mark of our fellowship—not just wearing His name, but actively living out His calling.

09/01/2026

Join the Soul Winning Seminar on September 12 (Saturday) starting at 9:00AM. Jon Rowe will lead this seminar! The seminars is free!

08/30/2026

Welcome to the family, Joel!

We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate Joel’s baptism! It was a truly special moment as Joel made his public confession of faith, taken by Joshua Morton, right here at Westside. What an incredible step in his journey with Christ!

It’s been a joy having Joel join our community, especially with his friends Xavier and Kat. Let's make them feel right at home!

"For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body..." - 1 Corinthians 12:13

Please join us in welcoming Joel into our family!

Drop a note of encouragement in the comments!

08/30/2026

Stan Freitas delivered a great lesson today!

Matthew 21 is packed with explosive, table-turning moments—from Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey to shutting down his harshest critics. It’s a masterclass in how to handle power, opposition, and faith.

Here are 6 powerful lessons from Matthew 21 to carry into your week:

Humility: True power doesn't need to dominate. It looks like a King on a borrowed donkey.

Relationship: God wants an open, intimate house of prayer, not a religious marketplace.

Keep helping people: Even when surrounded by hostility, Jesus immediately made time to heal the hurting.

Endure criticisms: Kingdom work will always attract cynics. Ignore the elite critics and listen to the pure-hearted.

Fruit, Faith & Prayer: God isn't looking for the outward appearance of religion; He wants a life that produces real transformation (fruit).

You don't need to answer doubters: Jesus refused to debate bad-faith critics. You don't have to exhaust yourself defending your calling to people who just want to argue.

Which of these six lessons speaks to you the most today? Let us know in the comments!

08/28/2026

When a church fosters genuine love, sound biblical teaching, mutual care, active use of spiritual gifts, and Christ-centered worship, it embodies the spirit of the early church—even if its modern format (sound systems, auditoriums, printed orders of service) looks very different from a first-century living room.

08/23/2026

08/16/2026

Ever driven past our Central Valley vineyards and bitten into an unripe, green grape?

It’s hard, acidic, and completely sour.

In Greek, that grape is called an OMPHAX.

With rising costs and tight budgets, many of us feel like we’re living in an Omphax season.

Our natural instinct in a sour season is to pull back and close our hands until things get sweet. But a sour grape doesn't sweeten in a harvest bin—it only matures by staying fiercely attached to the vine through the summer heat (John 15:4–5).

How do we move from scarcity to radical trust? Remember O.M.P.H.A.X.:

* O — Observe the Sour Season: God doesn’t ask us to fake it. Like the Macedonians in 2 Corinthians 8, we can acknowledge real hardship while anchoring our joy in Christ.

* M — Maintain the Attachment: Heat is the catalyst that creates sweetness, but only if the branch stays connected to the Root. Don't let financial stress pull you away from God and His church.

* P — Prune the Fear: Giving when margins are slim feels risky, but sacrificial trust cuts through the bottleneck of fear.

* H — Harness Every Resource: Think of the church like a potluck. God doesn’t ask one person to cater the whole meal; He asks each of us to bring a dish. Whether it’s your Time, Talents, or Treasures, every contribution sustains our mission of Evangelism, Edification, and Benevolence.

* A — Act in Faith: Like the widow with her two small coins, take one faithful step of obedience today instead of waiting for a surplus.

* X — eXpect the Sweetness: Trust that God transforms our present sacrifices into deep spiritual maturity and lasting joy.

This Week’s Challenge: Bring what is in your hands. Don’t wait for life to feel "sweet" to serve or give.

Offer your Omphax to the Lord—step up in service, plug into a ministry, or give sacrificially—and let the Master Vinedresser turn this season into a harvest of grace. 🍇🌱